Almost 1,000 new teachers in Scots schools to meet Covid challenges
Almost 1,000 new teachers have b een recruited, or will soon be in place, in Scotland’s schools to meet the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic in classrooms, it has been announced.
Education secretar y Secre - tar y John Swinney said that teacher numbers are likely to grow further as schools adapt to the need for smaller classes to follow distancing guidelines. There are an additional 740 new recruits in classes already, with plans now in place to hire an additional 250, MSPS have been told.
T h e e x t r a t e a c h e r s we r e unveiled as Mr Swinney faced questions at Holyrood yesterday over concerns of “excess i v e ” t e a c h i n g w o r k l o a d s expressed by teaching unions.
“We r e c o g n i s e t h e c h a l - lenges faced by some schools which is why we’ve taken steps to expand the workforce,” Mr Swinney said.
“T h e m o s t r e c e n t i n f o r - ma t i o n I h ave i s t h a t l o c a l authorities have recruited an additional 740 teachers and there are plans in place for the
recruitment of another 250 at this particular stage.
“We expect this number to increase as schools continue to assess the needs of children and young people over the coming weeks.”
The new recruits came from a £45 million fund announced by the Scottish Government earlier in the year. An additional £30 m has now been allocated to councils for more recruits.
But Lab our’s Iain Gray said head and deputy head teachers are facing extra pressure as a result of the g o ve r n m e n t ’s l a t e d e c i - sion to resume full-time teaching in classes across
Scotland. “This pressure has c o n t i n u e d a s t h e y t r y ke e p pupils and staff safe, parents informed and ensure health measures are complied with and deal with staff who are ill or self-isolating,” Mr Gray said.
“Headteachers cannot do all of this and also lead learning in their schools as they would wish to.”
Mr Gray also hit out that the “failure” of Education S cotland and the S cottish Qualifica tion Authorit y (SQA) to produce adequate guidance in teaching practical subjects, as well changes to courses and curriculums for exams.
M r S w i n n e y a c c e p t e d t h a t t h e r e w e r e a d d i t i o n - al demands being placed on school leaders in the “extraordinary circumstances” being presented by the virus.
“I’m confident through my dialogue with senior leaders in education and within indiv i d u a l s c h o o l s t h a t wh i l s t the demands are significant, s c h o o l l e a d e r s a r e a b s o - l u te l y c o mmit te d to e n s u ring schools are safe and that schools are strong places of l e a r n i n g a n d t e a c h i n g ,” h e added.